The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-06

cave, II Fahrenheit, and in the gulch below the
fall the air was oppressively chilly. MillersS
cave, short distance from the last mentioned
cave, is surrounded by wild, canyon-like seem
cry, romantic and interesting. The opening Of the
cavern is forty feet wide and four and half or
five feet high for one hundred yards, where
there is a room seven feet wide and fifteen feet
high. Beyond, the water is deep, and the roof
descends to within foot or two of the water.
It has been traced by Charles Dow more than
half a mile to its source in two funnel sinks
one in Morgan and the other in Owen county.
In wet weather the cavern is filled to its utmost
capacity, and the water in the pool is then
twenty-five feet deep. pouring out a furious tor
rent
I'm Lawrence county, a mile and half south.
west of Bedford is Dunnehew's cave (the spell
ing is not mine), the most extensive cavern
known in the county. II has been explored
through a space of two miles, and is said to con.
tain many beautiful stalactites, stalagmites,
chambers and corridors Of considerable size.
Shiloh cave, four miles northwest of Bedford,
mel once collected the surface water,
and tunneled passway thence south
east to Salt creek, three quarters of mile dis
tant. A short, rugged slope gives entrance to
wide room thirty feet in height The moist air
and the brook babbling over the floor justify the
name Of Wet cave by which it is sometimes
known. Bewildered by darkness and the nov
city of the situation, an oppressive awe startles
the mind and ear rs strange knocking voices are
cast up from the murky depths A lofty corr
dor leads off in a southeasterly direction tbs
precipitous sides of which show stratiied beds I.
of limestone and q record in ages past Of an an ,
nual overflow The echoing resonance increases
one proceeds and soon a natural fountain is
seen, which pours three jets of water. frightened
with silvery foam, over an orifce near the root
down upon the floor from which cloud of spray
arises Proceeding across the small brook the
lofty sides are draped and festooned with stalacs
titles in rows sometimes hanging in graceful
clusters or ribbed with giant corrueations.
Above. the roof and overhaneing sides bristle
with clear, quillke tubes, fragile as glass, each
tipped with drop OF water, which sparkles
in the lamplight like crystal jewel
For half mile the beauty and purity of orna-
mentation does not flag, although frequent cross
ings Of the brook, now OF considerable size,
make the way tedious. Here it leaps from
small precipice--a subterranean cataract-with
much report of falling water The pond below :
blocks the way, but with waterproof boots, the
southern outlet may be found, fourth of q mile
beyond, near Salt creek. Many side passages
have not been visited and will reward some
future explorer. Near the middle of the cave
was stalagmite as large as mans body. hve
feet high name the Image of the Manitou.'
Some ruthless vandal has broken the statue, and
scattered the fragments on the floor. This
cavern far exceeds Mammoth cave in beauty,
though only one mile has yet been explored lts
inhabitants, as noted by tracks, were raccoons,
rats and antlions.
DRY cave is six miles northwest of Bedford.
The door entrance is on the side OF
hill, and the hall leaves thence in
dSOutQoaSLeFly
two sections, and in communication with the
intervening valley on the land of Z. c. Cole and
others. once probably formed a junction or con-
tinuation of Shiloh cave narrow doorway
opens into lofty vestibule. with an arched
DOME twenty-five feet above the floor, and a few
stalactites upon the walls. Soon the cave is APP
| parently closed. A monumental altar rises in
the center Of the passage, guarded round with
pendant stalactites which almost hide the tablet
with their snow-whlte shield. From these cur
tain scarce half an inch thick, dropped in grace
| full folds and caught in stone, Is thrown across
the passway The curtain is rent-broken by
some sacrilegious hand. Immediately beyond,
from projecting cornice, ten feet above the
floor. thousands of stalactites fringe either wall
of the passage with profusion of ornament
Behind the altar, mighty stalagmite has grown
up to support like pillar the roof above. Be-
| yond, one ascends by ladder to an upper floor,
where are many large, roomy halls. with stalag-
mites and stalactites. The inhabitants Of this
cave are a1seeing animals
"Grinstaffs cave is about ten miles northwest
OF Bedford. 1t consists of two stories or floors,
the upper one dug, the lower one washed by
small stream of water. AS yet it is only par
| italy explored. Many passages have not been
| entered at all The portions already visited are
reported to have extent of more than two
| miles and that the sides ornamented with a
variety of stalactites and other cave forms Con-
| nellys cave is mile and half east of the vii
lage of Huron, on the Ohio q Mississippi road
| 1t has its doorway at the foot of hill It's gen.
eral course is from northwest to southeast The
roof is usually from twelve to twenty feet above
the brook which runs over the floor. The width
| is about the same. Many wide chambers were
| found, some of which were adorned with snowy
| curtains of stone supported by robust stalacttes
| and pvramidal stalagmites. It is reported to
have been explored a length of two miles This
| cave was formerly frequented by the black bear,
| and his wallows and winter beds may be plainly
seen. Besides seeing animals it contains eveless
| beetles, centipedes, crawfish. blindfish, etc.
large-headed seeing fish winters in the cave but
ont fho AipU IN. hA iohf nd
| sunshine of summer
'Spice valley, in Bryantsville, as situated, in
| dicates ancient cavern, now fallen in, near
| the residence of William Bryant is deep, IN
| explored opening, having a known depth Of 1875
feet. just below the 'Stump-hollow Ford of
White river is the 'Buzzard' or 'Saltpeter cave.
known to contain apartments on two floors
| Blue Spring cave on the south side of White
river and two miles below Woods Ferry, has
teen explored three miles large stream OF
| water runs out, which is said to have cut basins
i within the cavern to depth OF more than one
hundred measured fees. The volume is greatly
| increased by rains or a time of high water and
| then its current may be seen sweeping across the
river into which it is discharged. Time did not
allow me opportunity to explore, but it would
| be interesting to discover the source and extent
Of this cavern.
"Hamers cave, two and half miles east Of
| Mitchell, has doorway forty FIVE feet above the
| valley. A main and narrow side entrance above
shows an arch of good architectural effect The
floor is level six feet wide and covered with q
swift stream of water eight inches deep, al
though at places the depth is increased to twenty
feet. boat, of course, is needed for explora-
ton. Three ourths of a mile is rapid fall.
The whole stream rushes down an incline nearly
three feet wide with great violence. and fills the
cave with noise The boat must be carried
above this obstacle, when another voyage i1
| taken along a space of 300 feet to q second
series Of falls, The Grand Cascade Beyond.
the cave is low, wet and full of rushing water.
Eyeless fish. crawfsh and other animals are
found here.
"Donaldson's cave is half mile east Of the
last named, and gives discharge to large stream
of water. 1t was used about the year 1900 for
the manufacture of gunpowder made from the
chambers. Remains of the powder-mill may
still be seen. The entrance to the cave is wide